Date:13/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121358460300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Ryots can cut cost using drum-seeder: official

Staff Reporter

Direct sowing will cost them only Rs.200 per acre

HANDY: Agriculture Director C. Kosalraman inspecting the equipment at Thathampatti in Virudhunagar district on Thursday.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Farmers could make huge savings, if they used drum-seeder for direct paddy sowing, instead of the traditional way of raising nursery and transplanting, according to Director of Agriculture, C. Kosalraman.

After inspecting the drum seeder at Thathampatti on Thursday, Mr. Kosalraman said that the traditional way of raising nursery and transplanting cost Rs.2,500 an acre. But, direct sowing would cost the farmers only Rs.200, he said.

Stating that a uniform spacing between plants would be ensured while using the drum seeder, he said the farmers could use cono weeder for weeding out, by which they could save Rs.1,500.

At Ondipulinackanoor, he inspected a farm that had adopted a precision farming technology. The Joint Director of Agriculture, R. Balasubramanian, pointed out that Rs. 10,000 grant had been given to a farm women group at Inam Reddiyapatti to raise 12 goats, which would be useful for their farm activities.

The Deputy Director of Agriculture, Ramraj, was present.